Ringing Bells rolls out world's cheapest smartphone 'Freedom 251'

New Delhi: A new entrant in the Indian mobile handset market Ringing Bells has unveiled what is being touted as the world's cheapest smartphone – for Rs 251 – but has also raised concerns in the industry on feasibility of offering such a low price.

The Noida-based firm, set up five months ago by Amity University graduate Mohit Kumar Goel, launched the Freedom 251 at a high-profile function last night, attended by BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi.

Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar, who the company had said would launch the phone, could not make it due to 'cabinet meeting', the event's organisers said.

Ringing Bells' President Ashok Chaddha said manufacturing cost of the phone is about Rs 2,500, which will be recovered through a series of measures like economies of scale, innovative marketing, reduction in duties and creating an e-commerce marketplace. Chaddha also rejected speculations of the handset being subsidised by the government.

The industry has also raised concerns about the pricing of the device and has asked Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to get into depth of the issue, saying the price could not be below Rs 3,500 even after a subsidised sale.

The 3G handset, Freedom 251, features a 4-inch display,Spectrum 1.3-GHz quad-core processor and 1 GB RAM. It will come with apps linked to government initiatives like Swachh Bharat, Women Safety, Fisherman, Farmer and Medical.